JP2002031833A - Camera and flashing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera and a flashing device capable of surely reducing a red-eye phenomenon without dazzling an object person's eyes by a flash by using a lamp other than the flashing part at the time of photographing. SOLUTION: This camera and flashing device is provided with a flashing means 15 for flashing light of brightness lower than the flashing, and control means 22, 23, 25 that control the brightness of the flashing means 15, and emit light showing an operating period of a self-timer at the time of photographing with the self-timer, auxiliary light for detecting the focus at the time of auto- focus photographing and light for reducing the red-eye phenomenon at the time of photographing with flash. The control means 22, 23, 25 control at least once to increase the brightness of the flashing means 15 during the period from the start of light emission for reducing the red-eye phenomenon until the end of the emission.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera and a flash light emitting device having a function of reducing red-eye phenomenon during flash photography.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, there has been proposed a technique in which light is emitted from a lamp provided separately from a flash light emitting portion that emits flash light to reduce the red-eye phenomenon in which human eyes appear red due to flash light during flash shooting. The red-eye effect can be reduced by irradiating the subject person with the light from the lamp prior to flash light emission and contracting the pupil of the subject person with the light from the lamp in advance.

[0003] In order to use a different lamp from the flash light emitting part,
Even if the red-eye effect is reduced during flash photography, there is no problem that the charge of the flash light emitting unit is reduced. Further, it is possible to reduce the cost by using the light from the lamp as display light at the time of self-timer shooting or auxiliary light at the time of autofocus shooting.

[0004]

However, when the lamp is used for the self-timer photographing, the autofocus photographing, and the flash photographing, the luminance of the lamp is controlled so as to be the optimum luminance in each photographing. It is necessary to do.

[0005] The optimal brightness of the lamp at the time of the self-timer photographing is a value low enough for the subject person to recognize that the self-timer is operating. The optimal brightness of the lamp at the time of autofocus shooting is a value high enough to assist focus detection. However, at the time of flash photography, if the brightness of the lamp is set to a value high enough to sufficiently reduce the red-eye effect, it is too dazzling for the subject person and is set to a low value such that the subject person does not feel dazzling. There has been a problem that the red-eye effect cannot be sufficiently reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera and a flash light emitting device which use a lamp different from the flash light emitting portion and which can surely reduce the red-eye effect without causing the subject person to feel glare during flash shooting. It is in.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a camera which emits light having a luminance lower than that of a flash, and which controls the luminance of the light emitting means so as to indicate the operation period of the self-timer during self-timer photographing. Control means for emitting light for assisting focus detection during autofocus photographing, and light for reducing red-eye effect during flash photographing, the control means intervening between the start of emission of light for reducing red-eye effect and the end of emission. At least once, control for increasing the luminance of the light emitting means is performed.

According to this camera, even when the light emitting means is used for flash photography, self-timer photography, and autofocus photography, the luminance of the light emitting means is controlled by the control means to the optimum luminance for each photography. Can be set to In particular, during flash photography, the luminance of the light emitting means is increased from the start of emission of light for reducing the red-eye effect to the end of the emission to finally achieve high luminance (the luminance required for reducing the red-eye effect). The pupil can be reliably contracted without causing the subject person to feel dazzling.

A flash light emitting device according to the present invention comprises a first light emitting means for emitting a flash light and a second light emitting means for emitting light having a lower luminance than the flash light.
And a control means for controlling the luminance of the second light emitting means at the time of flash photography to emit light for reducing the red-eye effect, and this control means is provided from the start of emission of light for reducing the red-eye effect. The control for increasing the luminance of the light emitting means is performed at least once before the end of the injection.

According to this flash light emitting device, at the time of flash photography,
It is possible to increase the brightness of the light emitting means from the start of emission of light for reducing the red-eye effect to the end of the emission to finally set the brightness to a high level (the brightness required for reducing the red-eye effect). Thus, the pupil can be reliably contracted without causing the subject person to feel dazzling.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention corresponds to claims 1, 2, 4, and 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the camera 10 of the first embodiment
It comprises a camera body 11, a taking lens 12, and a pop-up unit 13. FIG. 1 shows a state at the time of flash photography in which the pop-up unit 13 is popped up.

The camera 10 has a pop-up section 13
A flash light emitting section 19 for emitting a flash is provided on the front of the camera body 11, and a lamp 15 (light emitting means) for emitting light having a lower luminance than the flash is provided on the front of the camera body 11. Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, a switch unit 25 for switching between energization / non-energization from the power supply to the lamp 15 is provided inside the camera 10. The switch section 25 includes a field effect transistor (FET) 26 and a resistor 27. The FET 26 has a drain connected to one end of the lamp 15 and a source grounded. By the way, lamp 1
The other end of 5 is connected to a power supply. The resistance 27 is FE
It is connected between the gate and the source of T26.

In the switch section 25, when an H level signal is input to the gate of the FET 26, a current flows through the channel of the FET 26 and the lamp 15 is turned on (the switch section 25 is turned on). At this time, the lamp 15 is turned on. When an L-level signal is input to the gate of the FET 26, no current flows through the channel of the FET 26, and the lamp 15 is turned off (the switch 25 is turned off). At this time, the lamp 15 is turned off.

Further, a microcomputer 21 for performing various controls of the camera 10 is provided inside the camera 10, and a PWM (Pulse Width Modulati) built in the microcomputer 21 is provided.
on) The drive circuit 23 is connected to the gate of the FET 26 of the switch section 25. Further, inside the microcomputer 21, a CPU 22 is connected to the PWM drive circuit 23, and a timer 24 is connected to the CPU 22.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the PWM drive circuit 23 is a circuit that outputs a periodic PWM signal that alternates between an H level and an L level alternately. The duty ratio between the time A at the H level and the time B at the L level is represented by A / T, where the period of the PWM signal is T (= A + B). P
The period (T) and duty ratio (A / T) of the WM signal are C
It is set by PU22. These CPU 22, PW
The M drive circuit 23 corresponds to the “adjustment unit” in claim 2. The timer 24 measures time according to an instruction from the CPU 22.

The PWM signal (FIG. 2B) from the PWM drive circuit 23 is input to the gate of the FET 26 of the switch unit 25. When the PWM signal is at the H level, the switch unit 25 is turned on (the lamp 15 is turned on), and when the PWM signal is at the L level, the switch unit 25 is turned off (the lamp 15 is turned off). For this reason, the ON / OFF of the switch unit 25 (ON / OFF of the lamp 15) is the same cycle (T) as the PWM signal.
And the duty ratio (A / T).

When the period (T) of the PWM signal is set sufficiently short, the lamp 15 corresponding to the on / off state of the switch unit 25 is turned on.
Is repeatedly turned on / off at a high speed, and appears to the human eyes as being lit at a constant luminance (duty lighting). Brightness (brightness) of the lamp 15 in this duty lighting
Can be adjusted according to the duty ratio (A / T) of the PWM signal. The maximum luminance of the lamp 15 is when the duty ratio is 100% (A = T) (full lighting). Then, the duty ratio (A / T) is smaller than 100% (A <
In the case of T), the lamp 15 is dimmed, and the luminance is lower than the maximum luminance. Further, as the duty ratio (A / T) is smaller, the brightness of the lamp 15 is lower (darker).

The above switch unit 25 and the PWM drive circuit 2
3. The CPU 22 corresponds to “control means” in the claims.
The camera 10 (lens body 11) of the present embodiment is also provided with a lens attaching / detaching button 14, a focus mode switching lever 16, a release button 17, and an exposure mode switching dial 18. By the way, the taking lens 12
The lens can be detached from the camera body 11 by operating the lens attaching / detaching button 14.

Next, the camera 10 constructed as described above is used.
The lighting operation of the lamp 15 will be described. There are three types of lighting operation of the lamp 15, an operation at the time of flash photography, an operation at the time of self-timer photography, and an operation at the time of autofocus photography. The flash photographing operation is performed according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and the timing chart shown in FIG. 5, and the lamp 15 emits light for reducing the red-eye effect (red-eye reduction light). The emission of the red-eye reduction light is performed before the flash emission after the release button 17 is operated.

In S1 of FIG. 3, the CPU 22 turns on the lamp 15 at duty. That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, the duty ratio (A / T) of the PWM signal is set to 40.
% (S6), and starts outputting a PWM signal having a duty ratio of 40% (S7). Thereby, the duty lighting (40%) of the lamp 15 is started. After that, CP
U22 instructs the timer 24 to start measuring time, and S22 in FIG.
At 2, it waits until the time t1 has elapsed. During this time, the duty lighting (40%) of the lamp 15 is continued (FIG. 5).

Here, with the luminance K1 (FIG. 6) of the lamp 15 at the time of duty lighting (40%), the red-eye effect cannot be sufficiently reduced. The brightness K1 is set to a low value that does not cause the subject person to feel dazzling. And
When the time t1 has elapsed from the start of lighting, the CPU 22 switches the lamp 15 to full lighting in S3 of FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 4B, the duty ratio (A /
T) is changed to 100% (S8), and the duty ratio 1
The output of the 00% PWM signal is started (S9). Thereby, the full lighting (100%) of the lamp 15 is started.

Thereafter, the CPU 22 again instructs the timer 24 to start counting time, and waits until the time t2 has elapsed in S4 of FIG. During this time, full lighting (100%) of the lamp 15 is continued (FIG. 5). Full lighting (100
%), The luminance K2 of the lamp 15 (FIG. 6) is set to a value high enough to sufficiently reduce the red-eye effect. The subject's eyes are already lit (40%)
Fully lit (100%) because you are used to the brightness K1 at the time
No glare is felt at the brightness K2 at the time.

Then, after switching to full lighting, time t
After 2 elapses, the CPU 22 proceeds to S5 in FIG.
The lamp 15 is turned off. At this time, the eyes of the subject person are already accustomed to the luminance K2 at the time of full lighting (100%), and the pupil has contracted to the extent that red eyes do not occur.

As described above, according to the lighting operation of the lamp 15 during flash photography (FIGS. 3 to 5), the lamp 15 is first lit darkly with a low luminance K1 (duty lighting (40
%)) And lighting at high brightness K2 (brightness required to reduce the red-eye effect) when the eyes are used (full lighting (10%)).
0%)), the pupil can be reliably contracted without causing the subject person to feel dazzling.

Therefore, the lamp 1 in S5 of FIG.
After turning off the light of 5 (end of emission of red-eye reduction light), even if flash light is emitted from the flash light emitting section 19 of the camera 10, the flash does not cause the subject person to feel dazzling and the subject person's eyes may appear red. Absent. As a result, a good photograph by flash photography is obtained. On the other hand, the lamp 1 during the self-timer shooting
The lighting operation of No. 5 corresponds to the flowchart shown in FIG.
The light (self-display light) indicating the operation period of the self-timer is emitted from the lamp 15 according to the timing chart shown in FIG. The emission of the self-display light is performed before the shutter is opened after the release button 17 is operated.

The CPU 22 inputs the number of blinks of the lamp 15 (10 times in the first embodiment) to a counter variable i (S11 in FIG. 7), and turns on the lamp 15 at duty (S11).
12). The duty lighting here is the same as the duty lighting at the time of flash photography (S1 in FIG. 3, FIG. 4A). Thereby, the duty of the lamp 15 is turned on (40
%) Is started and continued until the time t3 elapses in S13 of FIG. 7 (FIG. 8). Brightness K1 of lamp 15
(FIG. 9) is a value low enough that the subject person does not feel glare.

When the time t3 has elapsed from the start of lighting, the CPU 22 determines in step S14 of FIG.
Is turned off (FIG. 8). Thereafter, the CPU 22 waits until the time t4 elapses in S15 of FIG. 7 and keeps the lamp 15 off (FIG. 9).

When the time t4 has elapsed from the start of turning off the light, the CPU 22 decrements the counter variable i (S16), and determines whether or not the counter variable i has become 0 (S17). As a result of the determination, if the counter variable i is not 0, the process returns to S12 and the lamp 15 blinks (S12 to S1).
Repeat step 7). If the result of the determination in S17 is that the counter variable i is 0, the lamp 15 is lit in duty for final lighting indicating the start of release (S18). The duty lighting here is also the same as the duty lighting at the time of flash photography described above (S1 in FIG. 3, FIG. 4A). Thus, the duty lighting (40%) of the lamp 15 is started, and is continued until the time t5 (> t3) elapses in S19 of FIG. 7 (FIG. 8).

Then, when the time t5 has elapsed from the start of the last lighting, the CPU 22 turns off the lamp 15 in S20 of FIG. As described above, according to the lighting operation of the lamp 15 during the self-timer shooting (FIGS. 7 and 8), the lighting of the lamp 15 at low luminance K1 (duty lighting (40
%)) And turning off the light alternately, so that the subject person can be notified of the operation period of the self-timer without causing the subject person to feel dazzling.

Finally, the lighting operation of the lamp 15 during autofocus photographing will be described. At this time, the CPU 22 fully lights the lamp 15. The full lighting here is the same as the full lighting at the time of flash photography described above (S3 in FIG. 3, FIG. 4B). As a result, the lamp 15 is fully lit (10
0%) is started, and light assisting the focus detection (AF auxiliary light having high luminance K2) is emitted from the lamp 15. Therefore, accurate focus detection can be performed. The CPU 22 waits until the focus detection ends, and turns off the lamp 15.

As described above, in the camera 10 of the first embodiment, the switch unit 25 and the PW
Since the M drive circuit 23 and the CPU 22 are connected, the duty ratio (A / T) of the PWM signal is simply adjusted even when the lamp 15 is used for flash photography, self-timer photography, and autofocus photography. Thus, the brightness of the lamp 15 can be set to the optimum brightness at the time of each shooting.

In particular, at the time of flash photography, the luminance of the lamp 15 is increased from the start of emission of red-eye reduction light to the end of emission to finally achieve high luminance (the luminance required to reduce the red-eye effect). Since the setting is made, the pupil can be reliably contracted without causing the subject person to feel dazzling.
Further, in the camera 10 of the first embodiment, the flash light emitting section 19
Since the red-eye reduction light is emitted from another lamp 15,
The charge in the flash light emitting unit 19 does not decrease.

In the above-described first embodiment, an example has been described in which the luminance of the lamp 15 is increased only once from the start of emission of red-eye reduction light to the end of emission, but the luminance of the lamp 15 is increased a plurality of times. The red-eye reduction light may be emitted while gradually increasing the brightness. Further, in the above-described first embodiment, the luminance K1 at the start of emission of red-eye reduction light and the luminance K1 during emission of the self-display light are set to be equal. Furthermore, although the luminance K2 at the end of emission of the red-eye reduction light and the luminance during emission of the AF auxiliary light are set to be equal, they may be set to different arbitrary luminances. Further, the duty ratio of the PWM signal (A
/ T) is set to 100%, and the lamp 15 is fully lit. However, if a switch (not shown) provided separately from the PWM drive circuit 23 and the switch unit 25 is used, the lamp 15 can be directly lit fully. .

Further, in the first embodiment, the PW
Although the example in which the M drive circuit 23 is built in the microcomputer 21 has been described, the PWM drive circuit 23 may be provided outside the microcomputer 21. In the above-described first embodiment, the camera 10 in which the flash light emitting unit 19 is integrally configured has been described as an example.
The present invention is also applicable to a camera to which a separate flash light emitting unit can be attached.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention corresponds to claims 1, 3 to 5. The camera of the second embodiment has the same external configuration as the above-described camera 10 (FIG. 1), and differs from the camera 10 (FIG. 2) in the internal configuration. Therefore, an internal configuration of the camera according to the second embodiment will be described below.

In the camera of the second embodiment, FIG.
As shown in the figure, two switch sections 31 and 41 for switching between energization / non-energization from the power supply to the lamp 15 and a microcomputer 45 for performing various controls of the camera are provided. One switch unit 31 includes an FET 32 and two resistors 33,
34. The FET 32 has a drain connected to one end of one resistor 34 and a source grounded. The other end of the resistor 34 is connected to one end of the lamp 15. The other resistor 33 is connected between the gate and the source of the FET 32. Then, the gate of the FET 32 is connected to the port P1 of the microcomputer 45.

The other switch section 41 comprises an FET 42 and a resistor 43. The FET 42 has a drain connected to one end of the lamp 15 and a source grounded. The resistor 43 is connected between the gate and the source of the FET 42. Then, the gate of the FET 42 is connected to the port P2 of the microcomputer 45. Therefore, when the port P1 of the microcomputer 45 goes high and the port P2 goes low, current flows through the channel of the FET 32 of the switch unit 31 (the switch unit 31 is turned on), and the lamp 15 is turned on. At this time, since the amount of current flowing through the lamp 15 is limited according to the resistance value of the resistor 34, the lamp 15 lights up darkly (dimming lighting).

Conversely, when the port P1 of the microcomputer 45 goes low and the port P2 goes high, current flows through the channel of the FET 42 of the switch 41 (the switch 41 is turned on) and the lamp 15 is energized. At this time, since the amount of current flowing through the lamp 15 is not limited, the lamp 1
5 lights up brightly (full lighting).

When the ports P1 and P2 of the microcomputer 45 are both at the L level, no current flows through the channel of the FET 32 of the switch unit 31 or the channel of the FET 42 of the switch unit 41 (both the switch units 31 and 41 are not connected). OFF), the lamp 15 is turned off. At this time, the lamp 15 is turned off. The switch units 31 and 41 and the microcomputer 45 correspond to “control means” in claims.

Next, the lighting operation of the lamp 15 in the camera of the second embodiment will be described. There are three types of lighting operation of the lamp 15, an operation at the time of flash photography, an operation at the time of self-timer photography, and an operation at the time of autofocus photography. The flash photography operation is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 11 and the timing chart shown in FIG. 12, and the red-eye reduction light is emitted from the lamp 15.

In S21 of FIG.
Turns on the lamp 15 with dimming. That is, port P
1 is set to the H level, and the port P2 is set to the L level. afterwards,
The microcomputer 45 waits until the time t11 has elapsed (S
22), the dimmed lighting of the lamp 15 is continued (FIG. 1)
2). Here, with the luminance K1 of the lamp 15 at the time of dimming lighting (see FIG. 6), the red-eye effect cannot be sufficiently reduced. The brightness K1 is set to a low value that does not cause the subject person to feel dazzling.

When the time t11 has elapsed from the start of lighting, the microcomputer 45 switches the lamp 15 to full lighting in S23 of FIG. 11 to increase the brightness of the lamp 15. That is, the port P1 is set at the L level and the port P2 is set at the H level. Thereafter, the microcomputer 45 waits until the time t12 elapses (S24), and the lamp 15
Is fully lit (FIG. 12). The luminance K2 of the lamp 15 at the time of full lighting (see FIG. 6) is set to a value high enough to sufficiently reduce the red-eye effect. The eyes of the subject person are already accustomed to the brightness K1 at the time of dimming lighting, and therefore do not feel glare at the brightness K2 at the time of full lighting.

Then, after switching to the full lighting, the time t
After 12 has elapsed, the microcomputer 45 turns off the lamp 15 in S25 of FIG. That is, port P
1. Set P2 to L level. At this time, the eyes of the subject person are already accustomed to the brightness K2 at the time of full lighting, and the pupils are contracted to the extent that red eyes do not occur. As described above, according to the lighting operation of the lamp 15 at the time of flash photography (FIGS. 11 and 12), the lamp 15 is first lit darkly with low brightness K1 (dimming lighting), and when the eyes are used, the high brightness is obtained. Switching to full lighting at K2 (brightness required to reduce the red-eye effect) allows the pupil to be reliably contracted without causing the subject person to feel dazzling.

Therefore, even if the flash light is emitted from the flash light emitting portion of the camera after the lamp 15 is turned off in S25 in FIG. 11 (the emission of the red-eye reduction light is completed), the subject does not feel glare due to the flash light. The eyes of the subject do not appear red. As a result, a good photograph by flash photography is obtained. On the other hand, the lighting operation of the lamp 15 during the self-timer shooting is described in the flowchart shown in FIG.
The self-display light is emitted from the lamp 15 according to the timing chart shown in FIG. At this time, the port P2 of the microcomputer 45 is maintained at the L level.

The microcomputer 45 inputs the number of blinks of the lamp 15 (10 times in the second embodiment) to a counter variable i (S31 in FIG. 13), and causes the lamp 15 to dim and light (S31).
32). That is, the port P1 is set to the H level. Then, the dimmed lighting of the lamp 15 is continued until the time t13 elapses (S33, FIG. 14). Brightness K1 of lamp 15
(See FIG. 9) is a value low enough that the subject person does not feel glare.

When the time t13 has elapsed from the start of lighting, the microcomputer 45 turns off the lamp 15 in S34 of FIG. 13 (FIG. 14). That is, the port P1 is set to the L level. Then, the extinguishing of the lamp 15 is continued until the time t14 elapses (S35, FIG. 14).

When the time t14 has elapsed from the start of turning off the light, the microcomputer 45 decrements the counter variable i (S3).
6) The blinking of the lamp 15 (S32 to S37) is repeated until the counter variable i becomes 0 (the determination result in S37 becomes Y). As a result of the determination in S37, the counter variable i
If is 0, the lamp 15 is dimly lit for final lighting indicating the start of release (S38). That is, the port P1 is set to the H level. Then, the dimming operation of the lamp 15 is continued until the time t15 (> t13) elapses (S39, FIG. 14).

When the time t15 has elapsed from the last lighting start, the microcomputer 45 turns off the lamp 15 in S40 of FIG. That is, the port P1 is set to the L level. As described above, according to the lighting operation of the lamp 15 at the time of the self-timer shooting (FIGS. 13 and 14), the lamp 15 is blinked by alternately repeating the lighting (dimming lighting) and the extinguishing at the low luminance K1. Therefore, the operating period of the self-timer can be notified without causing the subject person to feel dazzling.

Finally, the lighting operation of the lamp 15 during autofocus photographing will be described. At this time, the microcomputer 45
The lamp 15 is turned on fully. That is, the port P1 is set at the L level and the port P2 is set at the H level. This allows
The full lighting of the lamp 15 is started, and light (AF auxiliary light with high luminance K2) for assisting focus detection is emitted from the lamp 15. Therefore, accurate focus detection can be performed. The microcomputer 45 waits until the focus detection ends, and
Turn off the light.

As described above, in the camera of the second embodiment, one switch 15 is connected to one lamp 15.
1 and the microcomputer 45, even when the lamp 15 is used for both flash photography, self-timer photography, and autofocus photography, the brightness of the lamp 15 can be adjusted by simply switching the switches 31 and 41. The optimal brightness can be set when shooting.

In particular, during flash photography, the luminance of the lamp 15 is increased between the start of emission of red-eye reduction light and the end of emission to finally achieve high luminance (the luminance required to reduce the red-eye effect). Since the setting is made, the pupil can be reliably contracted without causing the subject person to feel dazzling.
In the above-described second embodiment, two switches 31 and 41 are provided for one lamp 15, and the brightness of the lamp 15 is increased only once from the start of emission of red-eye reduction light to the end of emission. As described above, when three or more switch units are provided in the lamp 15, the luminance of the lamp 15 can be increased a plurality of times, and the red-eye reduction light can be emitted while being gradually brightened. In this case, it is desirable to set the resistance values of the limiting resistors to different values in a switch unit having a resistance corresponding to the resistor 34 of the switch unit 31 (resistance for limiting the amount of current flowing through the lamp 15).

In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the red-eye reducing light is emitted from the lamp 15 provided on the front surface of the camera body 10 has been described. However, the flash light emitting device which is separate from the camera and can be attached to the camera. In addition, a red-eye lamp that emits red-eye reduction light may be provided. The red-eye lamp ("second light emitting means" of claim 6) is a lamp different from the flash light emitting section ("first light emitting means" of claim 6).

In this case, the switch section 25 of the first embodiment and the PW
The M drive circuit 23, the CPU 22 (FIG. 2A), or the switch units 31, 41 and the microcomputer 45 of the second embodiment.
(FIG. 10) is provided to control the luminance of the red-eye lamp during flash photography. Therefore, during flash photography, it is possible to increase the luminance of the red-eye lamp between the start of emission of red-eye reduction light and the end of emission, and finally set the luminance to a high level (the luminance required to reduce the red-eye phenomenon). Becomes possible,
The pupil can be reliably contracted without causing the subject person to feel dazzling.

It is also possible to use a dual-purpose structure in which the brightness of the red-eye lamp of the flash light emitting device is controlled to emit AF auxiliary light during autofocus photographing.

[0056]

As described above, according to the cameras of the first to fifth aspects, even when the light emitting means is used for flash photography, self-timer photography, and autofocus photography. In addition, the brightness of the light emitting means can be set to the optimum brightness at the time of each photographing. In particular, at the time of flash photography, it is possible to emit red-eye reducing light while increasing the luminance of the light emitting means, and it is possible to reliably contract the pupil without causing the subject person to feel dazzling.

Further, according to the flash light emitting device of the present invention, it is possible to emit red-eye reduction light while increasing the luminance of the light emitting means during flash photography, so that the subject person feels glare. And the pupil can be reliably contracted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera 10. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a lighting control circuit of the lamp 15;
FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a PWM signal, and FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a lighting operation of a lamp 15 during flash photography.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the start of duty lighting (a) and the start of full lighting (b).

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing a lighting operation of a lamp 15 during flash photography.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a change in luminance of the lamp 15 during flash photography.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a lighting operation of the lamp 15 during self-timer shooting.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing a lighting operation of the lamp 15 during self-timer shooting.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a change in luminance of the lamp 15 during self-timer shooting.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the lighting control circuit of the lamp 15;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a lighting operation of the lamp 15 during flash photography.

FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing the lighting operation of the lamp 15 during flash photography.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a lighting operation of the lamp 15 during self-timer shooting.

FIG. 14 is a timing chart showing the lighting operation of the lamp 15 during self-timer shooting.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 camera 11 camera body 12 photographing lens 13 pop-up unit 14 lens detachable button 15 lamp 16 focus mode switching lever 17 release button 18 exposure mode switching dial 19 flash light emitting unit 21, 45 microcomputer 22 CPU 23 PWM drive circuit 24 timer 25, 31, 41 Switch section 26, 32, 42 Field effect transistor (FET) 27, 33, 34, 43 Resistance

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A light emitting unit that emits light having a luminance lower than that of a flash, and a luminance of the light emitting unit is controlled to assist light detection of a self-timer operation period during self-timer shooting and focus detection during autofocus shooting. Control means for emitting light for reducing the red-eye effect at the time of light and flash photography, wherein the control means controls the light-emitting means at least once during the period from the start to the end of the light for reducing the red-eye effect. A camera characterized by performing control for increasing the brightness of a camera. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the control unit periodically switches between energization and non-energization of the light-emitting unit, and controls a time between the energization time and the non-energization time. A camera, comprising: an adjustment unit that adjusts a duty ratio, wherein the luminance of the light emitting unit is controlled based on the duty ratio. 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the control unit has an adjustment unit that adjusts a current supply amount to the light emitting unit, and controls a luminance of the light emitting unit based on the supply amount. Do 4. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls a brightness of the self-timer and a brightness of the light emitting unit at the time of starting emission of light for reducing the red-eye effect. Controlling the luminance during the emission of light indicating the operation period to be substantially equal,
A camera, wherein the luminance at the end of emission of light for reducing the red-eye effect and the luminance during emission of light for assisting focus detection are controlled to be substantially equal. 5. A light emitting unit that emits light having a luminance lower than that of a flash, and a control unit that controls the luminance of the light emitting unit to emit light for reducing a red-eye phenomenon during flash photographing. A switch unit that periodically switches between energization and non-energization of the light emitting unit, and an adjustment unit that adjusts a duty ratio between the energization time and the non-energization time to reduce the red-eye effect. A camera which performs control to increase the luminance of the light emitting means based on the duty ratio at least once between the start of injection and the end of injection. 6. A first light-emitting means for emitting a flash, a second light-emitting means for emitting light having a lower luminance than the flash, and a brightness of the second light-emitting means for controlling the brightness of the second light-emitting means during flash photographing, thereby causing a red-eye phenomenon. Control means for emitting light for reducing the light emission, wherein the control means performs control for increasing the luminance of the light emitting means at least once from the start of emission of the light for reducing the red-eye effect to the end of emission. A flash light emitting device.